Leo Diegel
Name:
Leo Harvey DiegelAlso known as:
The DiegCountry:
USALived:
[1899-1951]. Born on April 20, 1899 in Gratiot Township, Wayne County, Michigan. Died on May 5, 1951 in North Hollywood, California, aged 52.Original/Home Club:
Philmont CC, PA (Head Pro).Occupation:
Professional golfer and teaching professional.Turned Pro:
1916MAJORS (2): US PGA Champion (1928, '29). Total professional wins (37), including PGA Tour (30). Ryder Cup player (1927, '29, '31, '33). World Golf Hall of Fame (inducted in 2003).
Diegel's first introduction to golf was as a caddie when he was aged 10. Seven years later he won the Michigan Open in 1916, and four years after that in 1920 he was runner-up to Ted Ray in the U.S. Open Championship.
Winner of two U.S. PGA Championships and a total of 30 PGA circuit events, Diegel was known for his excellent ball-striking, but inconsistent putting skills. Following a playful wrestling accident with his friend "Lighthorse" Harry Cooper in 1934, Diegel was left with damaged nerves in his right shoulder. The injury eventually forced him to quit professional tournament golf in favour of becoming a teaching professional.
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (July 25-27). Second-placed Tommy Armour (Scot/USA) finished 3 shots behind defending champion Leo Diegel (USA), who won this title for the fourth time. [Kanawaki GC, Kahnawake, Québec].
America
x
Played as the San Diego Open (Jan 3-6; next played in 1952). Second-placed Horton Smith (USA) finished 1 shot behind defending champion Diegel (USA). [San Diego CC, Chula Vista, CA].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (12th) (Dec 2-7). Defending champion Diegel (USA) beat Johnny Farrell (USA) 6 and 4 in the 36-hole final. [Hillcrest CC, Los Angeles, CA].
Majors
PGA of America
The US PGA Championship (11th) (Oct 1-6). Diegel (USA) beat Al Espinosa (USA) 6 and 5 in the 36-hole final. [East course, Baltimore CC, Lutherville, Maryland].
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (July 26-28). Second-placed Macdonald "Mac" Smith (Scot/USA), Walter Hagen (USA) and Archie Compston (Eng) finished 2 shots behind Leo Diegel (USA), who recorded the third of his four wins in this event. [Rosedale GC, Toronto, Ont.].
America
x
Played as the San Diego Open (Dec 16-18). Second-placed Bobby Cruickshank (Scot) and Horton Smith (USA) finished 2 shots behind Diegel (USA). [San Diego CC, Chula Vista, CA].
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (July 30-Aug 1). Second-placed Mike Brady (USA) finished 2 shots behind wire-to-wire winner and defending champion Leo Diegel (USA). [Lambton G&CC, Toronto, Ont.].
America
x
Played as the Canadian Open (Aug 1/2). Second-placed Gene Sarazen (USA) finished 2 shots behind Leo Diegel (USA). [Mount Bruno CC, Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, nr Montreal, Quebec].
America
PGA of America
Played as the Shawnee Open (July 14/15). Leo Diegel (USA) beat Willie Macfarlane (Scot) in an 18-hole playoff (Diegel 69, Macfarlane 75). The playoff was held on the same day as the final 36 holes of regulation play. [Shawnee CC & Inn, Shawnee on Delaware, Pennsylvania; at the time the Inn was known as the Buckwood Inn].
Tournaments:
Solheim Cup: can Europe defend the most prestigious team trophy in women’s professional golf, when the 17th Solheim Cup is played out at the Inverness Club in Toledo, Ohio (Sept 4-6).
Italian Open: Nicolai Højgaard recorded his first European Tour win (Sept 5), just a week after his twin brother Rasmus landed the European Masters title (Aug 29); the first brothers to win back-to-back on the European Tour.
Who's Who:
Patrick Cantlay: moved into the world top 5, after winning the final two FedEx Cup playoff events and scooping the $15 million first prize.
Trish Johnson: kept the Senior LPGA Championship trophy in European hands, with her second win in this event in its four-year history.
The San Roque Club: "... how best to revitalise a course that had previously been fit to play regular host to the European Tour’s qualifying school finals..." by Toby Ingleton.
New 27-hole golf complex to be built in southern Belgium
A new golf complex in southern Belgium, close to the border with Luxembourg, will start construction in June 2021.
Marco Simone Golf & Country Club "makes its tournament debut with the hosting of the Italian Open on the European Tour" by Richard Humphreys
Gamble Sands opens short course:
David McLay Kidd’s 14-hole QuickSands short course has opened for play at Gamble Sands in Brewster, Washington.
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